Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Washington Supreme Court Statement on the Passing of Judge Charles V. Johnson

On December 29, 2020, Washington’s judicial branch lost a legal and civil rights icon with the passing of Judge Charles V. Johnson.

With a judicial career spanning nearly 30 years, beginning at Seattle Municipal Court in 1969 and retirement from the King County Superior Court in 1998, Judge Johnson’s influence far surpassed the boundaries of where he served.

Judge Johnson improved justice not only in our state, but throughout the nation.

Historylink.com says that, “His legal support was the backbone of the civil rights movement in King County.”  He was a founder of the Loren Miller Bar Association and help restart the Washington state chapter of the NAACP.

Serving as presiding judge of King County Superior Court, Judge Johnson and his team reduced a 68,000 case backlog. He shared that model with courts throughout the nation during his tenure as President of the American Judges Association.

Through his work with the National Center for State Courts and as a founding member of the Washington Supreme Court’s Gender and Justice Task Force, he promoted justice, equity, and peace.

Judge Johnson mentored countless youth, inspiring many to enter the legal profession. He co-founded a free community legal education program for middle and high school youth on legal rights and responsibilities, legal careers, prevention strategies, engagement with law enforcement and civic engagement. Similar programs exist to this day.

His award and honors are too numerous to count. They include the Seattle King County Bar Association’s Outstanding Judge Award and the National Center for State Courts Distinguished Service Award, both in 1991. He was also awarded the Municipal League of King County Public Official of the Year, and the Washington State Bar Association’s Outstanding Judges Award in 1994.

Following retirement, he continued work to eliminate racial and ethnic bias, as he did prior to joining the bench and as a leader in both the local and national chapters of the NAACP.

As this Court continues its mission to take steps to address racial inequities, we pause in this moment to honor those whose life work was aimed at this mission.

We express our gratitude, and our sympathies are with his wife Lazelle and family as they mourn his passing. His legacy will live on.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Loren Miller Bar Association Foundation which offers scholarships for diverse law school students.

Viewing and Visitation will be held on January 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm at Sunset Hills Funeral Home, 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA. Funeral Service Webcast will be held at: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bellevue-wa/charles-johnson-9972939.